Among the many words that describe the crux of singing there is one word that stands out amongst the rest.  Now since you all know that I am a voice teacher you are probably thinking…breath, support, dropped jaw…the big three.  Actually, the word is PATIENCE.  Yes, the student and teacher must have patience because learning to be a singer is not the same thing as just singing.  Think about learning to play an instrument…let’s say piano.  Did you learn in two months?  No.  In fact, your hand-eye coordination was probably just beginning to kick in after two months of “beating” it.  Same thing with voice.  Even though your little vocal muscles are quite efficient and know how to produce the tone you want, we need to get coordinated.  In fact, we spend most of our voice lessons getting out of our own way so the larynx can function as it should.  We have lots of muscles and movable parts in our bodies (no surprise there).  And they’re not used to letting go so the little larynx can shine!  Everybody wants to help.  And we need help from select muscles to work with the larynx to produce the proper tone but we don’t need help from all of them.  Like we guide our hands along the keyboard, we guide a “buzz” noise through our resonating cavities in our bodies.  This is not an activity we just jump into and perfect by noon the day after our third lesson.  It takes a number of years for the body to get the point as to what muscles are needed and which need to lie low so the body can hone itself into an instrument.  Yes, as singers, we are now instruments.  And if you want to be an opera singer (like those people “hollering” at the Met in NY), it can take up to 10 years to mold the body into the type of instrument that is expected for that standard of music.  You become “it” and “it” becomes you.  Your voice is no longer this thing you sing with.  It becomes how you identify yourself.  You are now a singer!  And you are always a singer.  It doesn’t leave you.  It may get rusty if you do not pay attention to it regularly but it is still with you.  Music in general is like that.  Patience is the key.  If it is that important to you then patience will get you where you want to be as a singer and ultimately serve you well in your singing adventures.